Method of and apparatus for impregnating fibrous materials with liquids



Aug. 6, 1929. E. s. PEARCE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING FIBROUS MATERIALS WITH LIQUIDS Original Filed Feb. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 il a X 0 a; if T 50" 0 "a 23 0 [I 24 B5 J0 7 v g, "Q? 6 Z0 a. K 12 I [I] 1045'! 21 121'; I 6'5 65 69 Z l 4 l 1 m m 5 61? JP 63 7 INVENTOR.

BFM T M A TTORNE Y.

Aug. 6, 1929. E. s. PEARCE 1,723,747

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING FIBROUS MATERIALS WITH LIQUIDS Original Filed Feb. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Zjgm'w S. @MH

. r A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN S.PEARCE, OF INDIANAPOLIfi, INDIANA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR IMPBEGNA'IIN G VFIBROUS MATERIALS WITH LIQUIDS.

Application filed February 17, 1925, Serial No. 9,899. Renewed September 1, 1927.,

My invention relates to methods of and apparatus for impregnating fibrous materials with liquids.

The invention is particularly adapted for employment in the impregnation of fibrous waste, for example, cotton, wool, mixtures of these, or other suitable fibrous material with oil or grease for use as journal box packing for lubricating the journals of shafts, rail- 19 way car axles and the like, but the said invention is of great valueand utility for use in the impregnation of fibrous materials of various kinds with liquids. For example, it may be used to great advantage in the impregnation of cotton, wool, silk and other like fibrous materials with liquid dyes in the operation of dyeing the same. Other uses and purposes of the invention will suggest themselves as the description proceeds and also will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

The invention will be described with relation to its use for efiecting the impregnation of fibrous waste with liquid lubricants, such as oil or grease, for use as a journal box packing, It will be understood, however, that the principal of operation enunciated and described herein is the same whether the apparatus and the method be employed for that purpose or for other purposes to and for which the invention may be adapted.

' The invention is adapted for use in the treatment of either new waste fibrous material, of fibrous material which previously has been used as journal. box packing but which has been cleaned, or a mixture of previously used cleaned fibrous material and new material, and also for use in dyeing operations as above indicated. The general ob'ect of he invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method by the'elnployment of which fibrous materials may be more completely and uniformly impregnated with, a liquid, such as'oil, than heretofore has been practicable; and to effect such impregnation mosteconomically. It also is an object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus by means of which the entire quantity of liquid lubricant, such as oil, or other liquid, calculated to be necessary to saturate completely a given quantity of Waste or other material may be completely absorbed within and by the said material.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 5:5 vide an apparatus of novel construction inaluding means whereby a batch or mass of immersion of the fibrous material within the impregnating liquid may be eifected gradually and at a rate or speed in pro orno tion to the normal release and escape 0 air from the batch .or mass or in step with the normal uniform rise of the liquid in the batch or mass.

The foregoing are some of the objects of the invention but it will be understood that there are many other objects and advantages incident to the invention which will be pointed out in the detailed description thereof which follows or will become apparent 7 from such description.

An understanding ofv the invention may be facilitated by referenceto the accompanying drawingsin which I have shown one convenient form of apparatus by means of which the method may be economically practised which apparatus embodies certain novel features of construction, as will be pointed out hereinafter in detail in the specification and particularly set forth in 30 the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section of an apparatus embodying novel features of construction-and bythe employment of which the methodmay be practised;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and'partly in verticalsection of the appa-" ratusshown in'Fig..1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line ii 3 of Fig. 1; and 4 Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4,- l of Fig. 1.

Before proceeding to a description of the apparatus disclosed in the drawings I shall refer briefly to the principle underlying the invention; One of the reasons why it is difficult to effect complete saturation of waste fibers or other fibrous material with oil or the like and with liquids which are not oily or oleaginous is that the minute from which the air or other gas already has been exhausted or partially exhausted, it will be found thatthe liquid lubricant or other liquid will enter into the minute cells and interstices and uickly effect saturation of the said fibers. ence one of the features of my invention is the provision of an app'aratus which is adapted to facilitate the contactor association of the liquid lubricant,

. such as oil or grease, with the fibers under the conditions above indicated; or to facilitate the contact or association of liquid dyes git :1 the fibrous material which is being ye Referring 'now to the drawings, it will be noted that I have provided a tank or receptacle 1 from the upper edges of which extensions or continuations 2 are provided.

For the purpose of closing the tank'I have provided a piston comprising a top 3, a de pending annular wall 4 having inwardly extending flanges 5 and 6, and a sealing packing 7. The inner lower edge portion of the sealing packing 7 extends underneath the outer edge portion of the part 30f the piston structure and is clamped between the same and the flange 6 by means of bolts 8. A wire net or screen 12 is secured to the under side of the flange 5 by means of bolts and washers 15. A tubular housing is provided at the central portion of the piston structure which extends a considerable distance above the said piston and is connected to the portion 3 thereof and to the screen. The said housing comprises two sections, 16 and 17. The lower end of the section 16 extends through a central opening in a member 18. The said member is secured to the section 16 by welding or in any other suitable manner and-constitutes in efi'ecta flange upon the lower end portion of said member. The member 16 projects upwardly through a central opening 20 in the screen 12 and the flange-like member 18 is secured to the latter by means of bolts and nuts and washers 21. The upper end portion of the section 16 of the housing is screw threaded and is provided with a flanged nut 22 the upper side of which is seated against. the under side of the portion 3 of the piston around a central opening 23 therethrough. The screw threaded lower end portion of the section 17 is provided with a flanged nut 24 the lower-side of which rests upon the upper means of the tubular housing the screen 12 and the part 3 of the piston structure are firmly and rigidly bound together.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the piston to open and close the tank or receptacle I have provided the piston with a number (four in the present case) of small lugs or brackets 31 having holes or openings through the inner ends thereof with which the lower ends of straps 32 are connected. The upper ends of these straps are connected through openings 33 with the lower outer edges of a member 34 by means of which connection is effected between the straps 32 and the lower end of an elevating rope or cord 35. The member 34 has swivel connection with the lower end of the elevating rope or cord 35. The said cord or rope 35 extends over pulleys 36 and 37 which are mounted H upon shafts 38 mounted in bearing's supported upon the angle members 4-0 the opposite endsof which are supported upon the upper ends of vertical standards or supports 42 which are secured to the outer side of the receptacle 1 and to the outer sides of the upwardly extending projections or ex tensions 2. Secured to the outer depending end of the cord or rope 35 is a weight 45 which counterbalances and tends to elevate o'r lift the piston 3.

When it is desired to place or insert fibrous material', such as Waste, to be snturated with a liquid lubricant such as oil. or other liquid, the piston is elevated so that the lower edge portion of the'depending wall 4 is carried to a position above the edge of the tanker receptacle 1 so that the material may be inserted between the lower side of the piston and the top edge 50 of the tank or receptacle. The liquid lubricant or other liquid may be delivered into the tank or receptacle either before or after the placing of the fibrous material therein.

The material having been insertedflnto the tank the piston is then lowered to such position that the top of the tank or receptacle is closed by contact ofthe outer upper edge portion of the scaling packing 7 with the inner sides of the upper edge portionot the tank or receptacle.

The method embodying my invention may be carried Out in different ways, that is, the

gravity, to cause a submersion of the waste material within the liquid lubricant. The exhaustion of the air and other gases which vmay be present from the minute interstices and cells of the fibrous material, whether said material be waste or of other character, facilitates and causes the ready entry of the liquid lubricant or other li uid into the said interstices and cells. As as been indicated above, the rate at which the air and other gases are'withdrawn or evacuated from the tank or receptacle 1 should be such as to cause the piston to descend at a rate proportional to the normal release and escape of air and other gases from the fibrous material. If the batch of fibrous material were caused to descend too rapidly through the liquid lubricant (or other liquid) it might entrain and entrap in the interstices, cells or pockets present therein, bubbles or globules of air which thereafter might not be released at all, or the release and escape thereof might take place very slowly, thereby necessitating a'longer period for the treatment of a given quantity of material.

By causing the immersion of the fibrous material in the liquid lubricant, such as oil (or other impregnating liquid), at a rate proportional to the normal release and escape of the bubbles or globules of air (or other gases, if an batch or mass of fi rous material or in step with the normal uniform rise of liquid in the batch or mass, a'more complete removal of the air and other gases which may be present from the said mass is brought about and a more complete impregnation thereof with the liquid lubricant or other liquid is effected. It is important to avoid the entrapment and entraining of bubbles or globules of air or other gases within the mass of fibrous material as it descends into the impregnating liquid, such as oil.

Immersion of the fibrous material within the liquid is effected quietly and without appreclable agitation of the said liquid.

The method also may be carried out by placing the fibrous material within the tank or receptacle 1, thereafter closing the piston and thereafter exhausting the air and other gases from the said tank or receptacle as completely as may be practicable, and thereby causing the piston to descend to corn ress the fibrous material into a layer 0 greater or less thickness upon the bottom of the tank or receptacle 1. This having been done the valve at 66 may be opened to allow the li uid lubricant (or other liquid) to flow ing connection therewith into the said tank 1. The impregnating process is assisted by the fact that the incoming liquid will be driven upwardly through the fibrous matebe present) from the rom the tank through the pipe 62 and extensions 64 havrial by a pressure in pounds corresponding and in proportion to the percentage of vacuum in the tank or receptacle 1 which may have been obtained and maintained by the exhaust pump 59. After all of the liquid has been discharged from the tank 60 the "alve 66 is closed and the operation of the exhaust pump 59 resumed so as to further 'increase the percentage of vacuum within the tank 1 which had been decreased by the introduction of the liquid lubricant (or other liquid) thereinto.

No matter in what order the ste s of the process or method may be carric' out the volume of the chamber within the tank or receptacle 1 underneath the piston is gradually decreased during the operation.

By the employment of the method embodying my invention given quantities of waste fibrous material may be caused to completely absorb the amount of li uid lubricant calculated to be necessary to ei' ect complete saturation thereof in a very short time, to wit, within a few minutes; or if themethod be employed in the operation of dyeing fibrous materials the period required to effect complete impregnation of said materials with the liquid dye employed is greatly shortened.

It will be seen that my invention not only is simple but that it also is eflicient in operation.

The term or word oil wherever employed in the specification and claims is intended to include not only what ordinarily is known as oil but also grease of a character which may be used for the saturation of fibrous materials to produce a journal packing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure'by Letters Patentis:

1. The method of im regnating fibrous material with a liquid, which comprises the bringing together of said material and a liquid in a partial vacuum to effect mixing of the same and progressively increasing the yaccum during the process of mixing and impregnation.

2. The method of impregnating fibrous Waste material with oil, which comprises the submersion of the waste in and by the oil in a chamber from which the air has been partially evacuated, continuing the evacuation of the air from the chamber after such submersion and varying the volume of said chamber during the period in which ignpregnation is effected.

3. The method of impregnating fibrous waste material with a lubricating oil to produce journal )acking, which comprises the combining 0% the said waste material and the oil in a chamber from which the air and other gases have been partially evacuated, continuing the evacuation of air and other gases after the combining of the said waste material and the oil, varying the volume of said chamber, and simultaneously exerting pressure upon the top of the mass to compel submersion of the fibrous material in said oil.

4. The method of impregnating fibrous material with lubricating oil, which comprises the introduction of the fibrous material into a chamber, partially evacuating the air from said chamber, introducing oil into the said chamber, thereafter effecting further evacuation of the air from said chamber" and simultaneously varying the volume of said chamber.

5. The method 'of impregnating fibrous material with oil to produce a journal packing, which comprises the introduction of said fibrous material into a chamber, withdrawing air and other gases therefrom and withdrawal of air from said chamber.

7. The method of impregnating fibrous material with oil to produce a journal packing, which comprises the introduction of said fibrous material into a chamber, closing the opening into said chamber through which the fibrous material is introduced thereinto, exhausting air' and other gases from said chamber and effecting pressure automatically and simultaneously upon the said fibrous material to compress the same against the bottom of the tank the interior of which constitutes the said chamber, and thereafter permitting oil to enter said chamber from the bottom.

8. The method of impregnating fibrous material with oil to produce a journal packing, which comprises the introduction of fibrous material into the chamber of a receptacle through the open top thereof, moving a closure into the said open top to close the same, withdrawing air and other gases from the said chamber and causing inward movement of the said closure to compress fibrous material within the said chamber upon the bottom of the said rece tacle, simultaneously introducing oil into t e said chamber and continuing the operation of withdrawing air and other gases therefrom},

9. The method of impregnating fibrous material with oil to produce a journal packing, which comprises the introduction of a predetermined quantity of oil into the cham ber of a receptacle, introducing a predeter mined quantity of fibrous material into the said chamber, withdrawing the air from the said chamber and simultaneously and automaticall compressing the combined mass of oil and brous material to cause submersion of the latter in the former.

10. The method of impregnating organic fibrous material with oil to produce a journal packin which comprises the placing of a mass 0 such material in a chamber, partially evacuating the air from said chamber, introducing oil. into the said chamber and there after resuming the evacuation of air from the said chamber and simultaneously and automatically effecting pressure upon the said fibrous material previously placed in said chamber.

11. The method of impregnating fibrous material with a liquid, which consists in gradually immersing a batch of such ma terial in a mass of liquid, the speed of immersion being proportional to the normal rise of air bubbles through the said liquid to the surface thereof whereby the entrainin of air globules within the body of the said material below the surface of the liquid is avoided.

12. The method of producing a journal box packing, which consists in gradually immersing a batch of fibrous material. in a bath of liquid lubricant, the speed of immersion being proportional to the normal rise of air bubbles through the lubricant to the surface thereof whereby the entraining of air globules within the body of the material below the surface of the lubricant is avoided and a substantially saturated product thereby produced.

13. The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in gradually immei ing a batch of suitable fibrous material in a bath of liquid lubricant of predetermined volume, the speed of immersion being commensurate with normal rise of air bubbles through the lubricant to the surface thereof whereby the entraining of air glcbuleswithin the body of the fibrous material below the surface of the lubricant is avoided and a substantially lubricant-saturated product produced. a

14. ,The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in gradually immersing a batch of fibrous material in a bath of liquid lubricant of predetermined volume depending upon the degree of impregnation desired, the speed of immersion being commensurate with the normal rise of air globules through the lubricant to the surface thereof whereby the entraining of air globules within the body of the said material be low the surface of the lubricant is avoided and a substantially completely impregnated product produced. I

till

ltlll llll \ surface thereof, and subjecting the material while immersed in said lubricant to a squeeging action whereby the entraining of air globules within the body of the fibrous ma- ,terial below the surface of the lubricant is avoided and a lubricant-impregnated material produced.

16. The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in supplying to a container a bath of liquid lubricant, gradually immersing a batch of fibrous material in said lubricant at a speed proportional to the normal rise of air globules through the lubricant to the surface thereof, and then compressing said material against the bottom of said container.

17. The method; of producing journal box packing, which consists in supplying a container with a bath of liquid lubricant of predetermined Volume, superposing a batch of fibrous material upon said lubricant, gradually causing immersion thereof in said lubricant at a speed proportional to the normal rise of air bubbles through the lubricant to the surface thereof, and then compressing the said material against the bottom 'of said container, substantially all of the said bath being thereby caused to be absorbed by the said fibrous material.

18. The method-of producing journal box packing, which consists ingradually and positively immersing a batch of fibrous-material in a bath of liquid lubricant, the speed of immersionbeing proportional to the normal rise of air globules throughthe lubricant to the surface thereof whereby the entraining of air globules within the body of said material below the surface of the lubricant is avoided and substantially completely impregnated material produced.

19. The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in immersing a batch of fibrous material in a bath of li u'id lubricant without producing apprecia le agitation of said lubricant. i

20. The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in immersing a batch of fibrous material in a bath of liquid lubricant without producing appreciable agitation of the said lubricant and said material.

21. Themethod of producing journal box pack ng, which consists in gradually immersing a batch of fibrous material in a bath of liquid lubricant jwithout producing appreciable agitation of said lubricant, the speed of immersion being proportional to he norma rise of air globules through the scant to surface t ereof whereby the --s within the body of the said material below the surface of the lubricant is avoided and substantially completely impregnated material thereby produced.

22. The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in superposing a batch of fibrous material upon a bodyof liquid lubricant in a closed receptacle, gradually evacuating the air from the said receptacle, and simultaneously effecting immersion of the fibrous material in the said bath at a speed proportional to the escape of air bubbles from the said material.

23. The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in superposing a predetermined quantity of fibrous material upon a predetermined quantity of liquid lubricant in a closed receptacle,-efi'ecting gradual evacuation of the air from said receptacle, and efiecting a positive-descending movement of the said fibrous material into the said lubricant at a speed proportional to the escape of air from the said material.

24L The method of producing journal box packing, which consists in superposing a mass of fibrous material upon a quantity of liquid lubricant in a closed receptacle sufiieient to eiiect the degree of impregnation thereof desired, effecting gradual evacuation of air and other gases from the said receptacle, and simultaneously effecting a gradual decrease in the volume of the interior of said receptacle to thereby eficct immersion of the said material in the said lubricant at a rate commensurate with the removal of the air and gas from within the mass of the said material.

25. The method of producing a uniformly saturated fibrous material, which consists in gradually immersing a batch of fibrous material in a bath of liquid, the speed of immersion being maintained in step with the normal uniform rise of the liquid in the batch, whereby the entraining of air lobules within the body of the batch and be ow the surface of the liquid is avoided and a substantially uniformly saturated product produced.

26. The method of producing a uniformly saturatedfibrous material, which consists in gradually immersing a batch of fibrous material in a bath of viscous liquid, the speed of immersion being maintained in step with the normal uniform rise of the viscous liquid in the batch, whereby the entraining of air globules within the body of the batch and below the surface'of the viscous liquid is avoided and a substantially uniformly saturated product produced.

21:. The method of impregnating" mass of fibrous materialwith a liquid, wb. consists in slowly compressin terial in a bath of such the gases Wine siowly of the liquid into the pores of the material of the said mass.

28. The method of impregnating a mass of fibrous material with a liquid, which comrises the gradual removal of gases thererom by the application of-pressure thereto in the presence of such liquid; the removal of said gases from said fibrous mass being effected at a rate of speed proportional to that at which absorption of said liquid by 10 said fibrous mass is effected.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 11th day of February, 1925.

EDWIN S. PEARCE. 

